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[hurricanechef]

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[hurricanechef]

[ Atsushi slowly moves past En and goes to sit down between Weiss and En. For him it was the most comfortable spot in the room right now, right between his two close friends. ]

Now I wonder what we could say to bring a smile onto Weiss's face. it has to be something really good. With a lot of oomph you know?

[schmisse]

I-- Thank you for listening?

[ she does trust atsushi, moreso than she does en, but... it's a step towards becoming better friends! it's not like she and en can be good friends if they don't know anything about each other. the only reason why it comes out as a question than a statement because she isn't sure what exactly she's supposed to say to being thanked that way??

when atsushi takes a seat, she moves to lean on his arm then takes a sip of the tea. ]

I'm not sure, either. But there really doesn't need to be anything.

[slothly]

I think actions speak louder than words, anyway.

[ He was going to drape an arm around Atsushi and use his shoulder as a pillow, as per usual, but it'd be awkward with Weiss leaning on Atsushi from the other side. And now he feels embarrassed feeling a little jealous, especially since he's supposed to be cheering Weiss up, not feeling bummed out he can't use Atsushi as a pillow.

Sharing is tough. So he folds his arms on his knees and rests his cheek against his arms. ]

Ah, but maybe that's because I can't think of anything with an "oomph."

[hurricanechef]

[ it's a mystery if Atsushi actually realized that En was feeling jealous or not, but when En didn't lean on him like he had expected, Atsushi wrapped his free arm around En's shoulder's instead and just relaxed into the couch. ]

I can't really either. I can't even come up with a good joke either.

[schmisse]

[ weiss isn't going to demand anything from them, not when they've been so hospitable. she'll take what she can get! ]

There really doesn't have to be anything. You two can continue what you were doing before I came and I'll just... hang around.

[slothly]

Atsushi, please.

[ As if Atsushi is good at telling jokes. Sorry, Atsushi. He appreciates Atsushi's astuteness, but he's still embarrassed and so his coffee is steaming excessively because of it. ]

We were talking about food on and off while reading. Probably not the most exhilarating conversation, but if you feel like sharing your thoughts on chikuwabu or something... actually, what do you think of something that's a staple ingredient but has no flavor of its own, only existing to absorb the flavors of other ingredients?

[ Someone stop him. ]

[hurricanechef]

[ He's just trying to be a good host, Enchan. Why must you always put down his attempts. ]

Yeah reading and...

[ En. En. Why must you ask all of our friends about their feelings of Chikuwabu? Atsushi couldn't help but snort softly to himself shifting to cover his mouth with his hands. He didn't want to be rude after all. ]

[schmisse]

[ weiss immediately regrets making them go back to talking.

there's a soft and rather long "uuuuhhhh" that comes from weiss, because how is she supposed to know these things??? ]

I don't know what a chiku-whatever is, and I don't... really cook, so. [ she shifts so she can lean at the other end of the couch instead. this is making her feel dumb. ]

[slothly]

[ Look. Curry is Atsushi's thing. Chikuwabu's is En's. While it's not his favorite food (seafood curry and onsen manjuu, please), he likes getting people's opinions on a food that's basically a sponge. It's a way to open the door to a philosophical discussion! For example, someone who enjoys chikuwabu probably only looks at things on a surface level. ]

Chikuwabu.

[ "Chiku-whatever," TCH. He's a little disappointed she doesn't know what it is, but not devastated. ]

Well, even if you don't cook, you probably have a favorite food, right? Although, considering what you've told me of your world... maybe you don't...?

[ En should probably think about getting to know people in ways other than drilling them about food.... ]

[hurricanechef]

Slowly we'll start spoiling her together. and she won't know what to do.

[ he laughs softly and takes a small sip out of his tea. ]

[schmisse]

[ her eyes merely narrow when en just says "chikuwabu" without even explaining what it is.... gIVE HER SOMETHING HERE!! ]

Some dishes here don't exist in Remnant, like whatever you just said. As for favourites... lamb chops with balsamic reduction, baked salmon, oh— crepes are always a staple at home. Klein makes them often.

[ a small smile graces her face just thinking about such delicious desserts. that's something she's going to miss, really. ]

[slothly]

[ Chikuwabu is an experience. One does not simply explain chikuwabu. It cannot be understood without the experience. It literally just absorbs flavors in soup dishes like a sponge. Deep. ]

Ah....

[ En doesn't say it because there's a big enough culture gap between them anyway, but the way Weiss speaks of so many of her favorite dishes as meat-based reminds En of a nikushokukei joshi -- a meat-eating woman. Which is kind of funny to En, since women who fall into that category are incredibly assertive and have an aggressive, active stance on everything... kind of like Weiss. Meanwhile, soshokukei danshi -- grass-eating men -- seems to vaguely apply to him and Atsushi: passive men with zero interest in "manly" things, like marriage.

It's killing him not to say anything, though, because this is exactly the kind of thing he could go on and on about for an hour. But Weiss probably already thinks he's weird, and he doubts concepts of nikushoukukei joshi and soshokukei danshi exist in Remnant. So he stays quiet on that, finally reaching for his coffee... which is still kind of bubbling. ]

In Japan, meat that comes from domesticated ungulates tends to be pretty expensive, so we mostly stick to fish. Crepes are cheap and easy to make, though -- even I could make them. Although maybe Atsushi should make you something, although you'll have to tell him if it's as good as Klein's.

[hurricanechef]

[ Atsushi's cheeks start to turn a little pink, and he starts giving off this warm aura around him, almost like their own personal little heater. He doesn't say anything to that comment, he just continues sipping his tea. Ah.... Why is En putting him on the spot like that. There's no way he could outcook Klein, not when Weiss always got to eat his food full of love. ]

[schmisse]

[ fish is generally cheaper, unless you buy salmon or eel or something. weiss at least knows that, since she's done shopping here. (she would not have known otherwise.) she came from a prestigious school that took care of their students' diets, though. she was able to eat meat regularly. not to mention, there's her excessive family, too. meat is part of almost every meal for her. barely any salt, though!

and she's never tried making crepes before. how can something like that be easy to make, as what en claims? nothing that good can be so simple. being able to eat crepes from heaven is such a nice prospect, though. she hasn't had one in a while. ]

I don't think Klein's crepes can be replicated, [ she addresses en with that statement, but looks at atsushi when she continues. ] but you cook well. I'm sure it'll be delicious.

[slothly]

[ En nods. Atsushi is a great cook. In fact, Atsushi's cooking is so great that he is primarily the reason that En hasn't starved to death yet. ]

Sounds like Atsushi is on dinner duty, then.

[ Atsushi is always on dinner duty........ Probably because neither of them wants to go to bed on a belly full of barely edible food. ]

[hurricanechef]

[ Atsushi started sinking further into the couch, with each compliment from his friends, his face grows hotter and the area around them does too. He even started giving off this faint red glow. ]

[schmisse]

[ weiss was about to say something about the glowing but-- ]

Dinner? [ it's more of a sputter than a well-thought response. ] I wasn't planning on statying that long.

[ though changes can be made with a little persuasion. ]

[slothly]

Ah, well....

[ He hadn't really thought about when that dinner would be, rather he was just saying what came to mind. Although... it sounds like a nice idea now. ]

It's fine if you have other plans, but if you do want to stay for dinner, you're more than welcome to do so. After all, you could have your crepes and maybe a baked fish?

[ He's sure about salmon, but.... ]

No chikuwabu, I promise.

[hurricanechef]

[ Ah...! He looked excited and turned his head toward Weiss with an embarrassed smile. ]

Yes! I-I mean if you don't have any other engagements today, please stay for dinner. We would really enjoy it! I'll make whatever you're in the mood for!

[schmisse]

[ the baked salmon is tempting... but what the fuck is a chikuwabu!! ]

I suppose I can stay. But only if you tell me what that chick is.

[ it's said with her banging her fists at the throw pillow she's equipped to herself, too. TEACH HER YOUR CULINARY WAYS!!!! ]

[slothly]

...Ah.

[ What a reaction!! That's what En likes to see -- someone fired up over chikuwabu! ]

That's easy. Chikuwabu, not to be confused with chikuwa, is made with flour, salt and water. You form it into a cylinder, then hollow out the middle with a tube before you steam it. It's not eaten on its own like chikuwa is, because it has no flavor. It is good at absorbing the flavor of other ingredients, so whatever kind of stock you use will be absorbed by the chikuwabu. It's a pretty good addition if you're struggling to afford food. It's more filling, you know?

[hurricanechef]

[ That's my En, always being so passionate about Chikuwabu. ]

Basically what En said.

[schmisse]

[ weiss thought she was a nerd but it seems like there's somebody who's nerdier than her. she listens intently at the explanation, but she can't really imagine it in her head.

at least she's become a small percentage smarter. ]

It sounds weird.

[ yeah.... :) ]

[slothly]

It is weird. It's such a pointless food, but people still use it in their udon from time to time. Almost as if it's some kind of pseudo-staple food, depending on the person.... Ah, but if it means you'll stay for dinner, we don't need any chikuwabu or chikuwabu substitutes. We can eat something normal, like crepes.

[hurricanechef]

You both can relax out here and chit chat, or whatever you're in the mood for.

[ Little clovers started popping up above Atsushi's head. ]